Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-07
WANTED TO PLAY.
An AMAZING ADVENTURE WITH 4
TIGER
The thrilling Experience Of an Army
cfscer in Irdia-A Natives
Explanation.


about the work our party was as much
. hunting as surveying party. We
numbered about thirty-eight people,
ten of whom were white men. Owing
TO the difficulties OF the country we had
no saddle-horses, but took along six or
eight pack-animals, and each native
also had pack to bear. The very diff
ficulties IN the way of building III
made the country n sportman's para
disc. Twenty years ago there was
more wild and savage game to the acre
in that district than elsewhere south OF
Lucknow. but the march of civilization
has doubtless driven the big wild game
away by this time.
We were travelling along the north
branch Of the Gadayey river-some-
times upon its bsnk and again couple
of miles from the water, sometimes
travelling five or six miles a day, and
again balting for couple of days to
fish or sboot-when 8 most singular in
cident befell me individually. | had
left camp at on esrly hour in the morn
ING 10 fish. While | carried my rifle
with me, l had no intention OF going
out of my way TO find game. On the
previous afternoon had ob'erved Whist
seemed to be capital fishing spot in
a bend of the river. and it was 10
this place / hasteped as / left camp.
Some of the native servants were
astir, and saw NE set ont, but | did not
want their services. IL was pretty
thick Jungle between the camp and
the bend, but at the bend there was
clear spot an acre in extent. with a
heavy forest growth and ledge OF
rocks for background. AS | took q
look around before sitting down on the
bank to my sport / remarked that it
was good spot for wild beasts, but as
there wss nothing moving | went right
TO work with my fishing tackle. Catch
ing n frog for bait, | flung in the hook,
and it wasn't five minutes before | was
meeting with such luck thatall thoughts
of tigers, snakes, and hyenas were
driven out OF my mind.
/ had landed half dozen good-sized
fish, and wss Just then playing
larger one, when 4 slight noise startled
me. and looked around to see such
sight az has seldom come to the eyes OF
sportsman. A full-grown tiger was
within five feet OF me. playing with one
of the fish. Ii was the last fish pulled
out, and in its dying agonies it was
jumping about on the grass. Every
time ii moved the tiger would reach out
a paw in n playful way, and once or
twice lac struck hard enough to move
. the fish three or four feet. | tell you
/ was a badly frightened man, and
all | could do Was to sit there with
mouth and eye. wide open. The tiger
had crept down from the bluffs, aud
why lie hadn't attacked me was mys
terry. He went from fish to fish, turn
ing them over with his paw, and time
and again brushing me with his tail as
he moved about. My rife was ten feet
away. leaning against a bush, and L
might have been idiot enough to try to
reach it. but for warning. My per
sonal servant had followed me, to see
what luck had. He came into the
neighborhood while the tiger was play
ing with the fish, and. softly climbing
a tree, he uttered the call of bird to
attract my attention, and then sang
out
"Do nothing to provoke the tiger,
master. He is IA hiiOWccic, and il you
do not cross him he will 60 away"
He meant that the spirit of good
native had been transformed, and 1t
was clearly the conmon-seAse way to
follow his advice. As the beast gave
me no attention | turned to the fish
tugging at my line and landed him.
He wss Of good size and full of vitality
and the tiger waited III a playful way
until | removed the hook aud threw
the fish on the grass. Then he sprang
for it as kitten would for ball OF
yarn and he played with 1t in the
same way. 1t was lauehable. In
spite Of the circumstances, to witness
bis actions. lie would run around in
circles, as YOU have seen young dog
do, sometimes almost lesping over me,
and then again be would become the
cat and creep softly forward to pounce
upon one Of tue fish. Each one rs
caught WAS flung to him, and it was a
full half hour before he grew tired OF
the sport. expected he would turn
to me sooner or later, but the native
saw the change Of doameanor first and
called:
sMsster, the hilo,cesle is going to
play with you BE as clay in his pow
er."
The tiger suddenly left the last fish
landed and came stalking up to me,
purring like Q cat and acting very
playful. His first move was to worm
his head under my left arm, and I'm
telling you the solemn truth when l
saw that smoothed down his fur as II
he had been favorite dog. L had on
o big straw hat, and this he got hold OF
in his teeth and played with for
ten minutes, or until he had
torn it all to pieces. | had no more
bait TO fish with and drew in the line
and sat there waiting for the tigers
next move. When he had finished the
hat he came over and rubbed against
ne, and purred in pleased way, and
rubbed him with my hanl from nose
70 tail. gradually got over my scare.
but was vet very anxious to know how
Inc dllHn WOuiu emu Inc sun "fo XIV
tirg well up and very hot, and the beast
would soon be seeking his lair. In
about thirty minutes from the time he
appeared the tiger began to show u
change OF demeanor. lie acted ner-
vous end uneasy, and the hair on his
back stood up at intervals. judged
that he had got the scent OF my SER
want. and such proved to be the case:
dared not rise to my feet, but L
made up my mind that If the tiger at
tackled me should make a spring of
the bank into the river. II was infested
with crocodiles, but there was not much
choice between being eaten by beast or
saunan. Once the tiger glsred at me
and growled. but the next mo,
ment wbined, as If afraid, and
edged up toward me as if for pro
teetion. The servant had been keeping
watcbful eye on my strange play
mate, and he now believed the time had
come for decisive action. He there,
fore fred his pistol and shouted at the
top Of his voice. The effect was imme.
diate. The beast dropped his tail, ut
tered long-drawn whine, and with @
sort of farewell glance at me he bolted
for the forest and disappeared. had
looked him over pretty well, and had
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